Who was the original Queen of Hearts?

Ever wondered which member of the royal family was nicknamed Action Man? Or what pet name Marlene Dietrich gave to Ernest Hemingway? Which footballer was called The Black Pearl? And who was dubbed Attila the Hen by her critics and The Iron Lady by her supporters?

Nicknames have played a special role throughout history, encapsulating the main characteristics (Merry Monarch, Good Queen Bess) or even life (Tumbledown Nick, Iron Duke, The Queen of the Blues) of a particular person, and at the same time passing judgement about them (Honest Abe, Superbrat).

The principles of creating nicknames vary enormously: some are a variation on the individual's name (Maggie, Thorpedo), others alter a familiar phrase or title (Attila the Hen, the Prince of Wails, the Lizard of Oz). Some incorporate a rhyming element (Ally Pally, Elvis the Pelvis), or reference to a placename (the Bard of Avon, the Wasp of Twickenham, the Fordham Flash).

From the affectionate and humorous to the derogatory and vitriolic, the Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames by Andrew Delahunty is a scintillating collection bringing together famous people, places, events, and organizations with the nicknames that epitomize them.

With broad coverage of over 1,800 nicknames of contemporary and historical figures, places and events, including politicians, monarchs, cities, musicians, sportspeople, institutions, actors, and much more, the Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames published this month explores the reasons behind the sobriquets of the famous and looks at contrasting attitudes to controversial figures, presenting each entry in its historical context.

Entertaining, informative, and often funny, the Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames is perfect browsing material for the general reader, and a useful point of reference for anyone researching famous figures, places, or institutions.

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